Slug casting machine



l /NVENTo/e 2 Sheets-Sheet l L.. E. MORRISON sLuG cAsTIN'G MACHINE Filed June 23, V1954 April 28, 1936.

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Apnl 28, 1936. 1 E. MORRISON 2,038,750

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEA/TOR www iw n v 5mg Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE of New York Application June 23, 1934, Serial No. 732,032

Claims.

'I'his invention relates to slug casting machines, wherein the slugs are cast against a line of matrices while supported in a hand stick wherein 5 they are composed by hand. As is well known,

the intaglio characters occupy an inverted position on the matrix bodies and are punched or otherwise formed in the bottoms of routing notches out across the casting edges of the matrices.

'I'here are three diiferent kinds of matrices now in general use, those of one kind having their characters located for top alinement, those of another kind for base alinement, and those of still another kind for center alinement. It so happens that the matrices of the three kinds differ in external form and hence require the use of as many different kinds of hand sticks for their composition, but even if the matrices were of the same external form (as they might be), it would still be necessary to employ different kinds of hand sticks owing to the different systems of alinement. Moreover, as a further disadvantage, the matrices of one kind or whose characters are located for one system of alinement can only be used when that particular system is to be followed.

The present invention is directed to certain im provements wherein matrices intended for one system of alinement may be composed in the hand stick not only in accordance with that particular system of alinement, but alsoin accordance with a different system of alinement, thus rendering it possible to employ the same kind of matrices and the same kind of hand stick for two different systems of character alinement. In the present instance, the matrices selected for the dual alnement are of the Ludlow variety, that is to say, those commonly employed in machines sold under the name Ludlow and whose characters are normally intended for center alinement. According to this invention, such matrices may be composed in the hand stick for center alinement or for base alinement, as may be desired, the hand stick and the matrices being constructed with this end in View.

The hand stick herein illustrated is one particularly adapted for use in a machine of the character disclosed in the copending application of Anthony J. Stouges, Serial No. 731,832, led June 22, 1934, although obviously it could be made for use in the regular commercial machine sold under the trade-mark Linotype, or even in the Ludlow machine itself.

In the accompanying drawings, two different embodiments of the invention have been shown by way of example, and obviously many modications and alterations may be made therein which will still be comprised within the spirit of the invention. It should be understood, there- Y .f

fore, that the invention is not limited to any particular form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the improved hand stick, showing a line of matrices composed therein; Y

Fig. 2 is an end elevatio-n of the hand stick shown in Fig. 1, looking from left to right;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofY a group of matrices of diierent fonts, with their characters in common base alinement; Y

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective o-f two. matrices of different fonts; Y

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of hand stick;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6; Y

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the matrices in a different position;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a portion ofthe modied form of hand stick, showing matrices of different fonts composed therein with their characters in common base alinement; and

Fig. 10 is a rear perspective View of two matrices of different fonts.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the matrices M (of the Ludlow va- 35 riety as before stated) are of the customary form except for the transverse notches R. cut through the rear or noncasting edges. Thus, the matrices are formed in their front o-r casting edges Vwith inverted intaglio characters M1 punched in the 0 bottoms of transverse routing vnotches M2, the characters, as usual, being located on the matrix bodies for center alinement. Moreover, at their rear edges the matrices are provided with supporting ears M4 projecting in opposite direc- 45 tions from top and bottom edges m and m1, which latter sometimes converge toward the front or casting edges to facilitate the insertion of the matrices into the hand stick from the rear.

As previously stated, the hand stick A is of the kind disclosed in the Stouges application Serial No. 731,832, being of. generally rectangular form and open at both the front and rear. As shown, the stick comprises parallel side walls A1 and A2, parallel end walls A3 and A4, and a line clamping 55 Veachother toward the upper wall A1 until the according to Vthe font size of the matrix char-v acters such that `when the walls are in aline-Y member A5 A(shaped like a matrix), thelatter being acted upon by a hollow thumb screw A6 threadedrin the end wall A4 and havinga stud A'I .m1 of the matrices, so that when the Vmatrices areY composed in'the hand stick they are held against endwise movement and are positioned for Vcenter alinement of the characters as normally intended.

In accordance with this invention, however, the side walls A1 and` A2 are more widely spaced apart (see Fig. 3), this wider spacing being made great enough V'to permit the individual matrices to be Y shifted endwise relatively to each other to adapt their characters M1 for base alinement (see Fig. 4) v In the use of the'hand stick, the matrices are composed therein in the usual way with their bottom edges m1 banking against the lower side wall A2 and as the matrices are thus positioned inthe stick the characters M1 are located for center alinement. If thatY particular system of alinement is to be followed then 4the operator needs only to tighten up the thumb screw A6 to hold the matrices in their assembled condition.

When the matrices are to belocated in the stick forbase alinement, they are composed` in the same way, namely, by allowing their lower edges m1 to bank or rest upon the lower side wall A2, but thereafter the matrices are shifted relatively to lower walls R2 oi' the notches Rj(before referred to) Y are brought into register or Y alinement'as shown in Fig. 1. In this Vconnection it is pointed out that the location of the notch wa1lsR2 varies ment the characters will aline at their bases as shown in Fig; 4 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It will here be noted thatthe matrices bearing characters of the largest size, like the large matrix shown at the left in Fig. 1, do notV need to have any endwise movement,'being allowed to remain with Ytheir lower edges m1 upon the lower wall A2 ofthe hand stick. The same is true of blank matrices or spacers, such as those designated N in Fig. 1.

As a means for effecting such alinement of the matrices in the hand. stick, the latter is provided with a straight bar or alining gage A8 which, after the matrices have been composed Ain the stick, is

' adapted to be placed in the notches R and xedly supported when the matrices are shifted endwise. VAs a result, such shifting of the matrices brings the lower walls R2 of the notches R into contact with the lower edge of the aliningibar and thus positions'the matrices for base alinement as desired. After alinement the operator needs merely toitighten up the thumb screw A6 to hold the matrices in their shifted position. f

Y Since ,the matrices'are originally composed with their lower edges m1 resting upon the lower wall A2 of the hand stick, which means that the lower walls R2 of the notches Rwill be out of registry (see Fig. 5), the notches R are made Wide enough so that in the original composedV position of the matrices the top walls R1 will all aline or register with each other and thus permit the alining bar A8 to be moved freely into the notches whether the matrices are to be used for onesystem of alinement or the other. l t

While the bar A8 might be otherwise supported,

Vor even made detachable if desired, it is shown in the embodiment under discussion as carried by a pair of arms A9 pivoted by screw studs Alo to the end walls A3 and A4 of 'the stick. As thus mounted the alining bar during the composition of the matrices may be swung down to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and later swung up to the full line position shown Vin Fig. 2 ,where it remains during the slug'casting operation.

When the bar A8 is to be used for effecting base alinement of the matrix characters, it is first Y' swung up to its active position, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, as permitted by the notches R whose upper walls R1 are at the time in register, and the matrices thereafter shifted individually by hand to bring the lower walls R2 of the notches into contact wtih the bar, or, better still, to tilt the ,stick downwardly sufciently so that all of the matrices as a whole may drop by gravity until arrested by the contact of the lower Walls R2 of the notches R with the bar after which, as before stated,V the matrices are'held in their shifted position by the tightening up of the thumb screw A6. Y

The embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 10 is precisely the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, Y except that in this instance the alining bar designated A11 is xed to the upper wall A1 of the hand stick and is arranged to cooperate with notches S cut in the top edges m of the matrices (see particularly Figs. 7 and 8) The notches S vary in depth in the same way as the'notches R' and for the same purpose, their bottom walls S1 being positioned so that when brought into `con- A' tact with the lower edge of the alining bar A11 the characters M1 of the matrices will be located for base alinement. It will be noted in Fig.V 7- that the lower edge o f the alining bar A11 is arranged at such a distance from the bottom Wall A2 of the hand stick that the matrices may be inserted into the stick from the rear Without interference. If the matrices `are allowed to remain with their lower edges m1 resting against the bottom wall A2, their characters will be located for center alinement. On the other hand, Y

if the matrices are shifted endwise toward the upper wall A1 to bring the bottom walls S1 of their notches S into contact with the lower edge of the alining bar A11, as shown in Fig. 8, the matrix characters M1 will then be located for base alinement (see Fig. 9 and the dotted lines in Fig. 6). As before, the matrices,'when shifted in the manner described, are held in their shiftedY position by tightening up the thumb screw A6.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in connection with Ludlow matrices, which may be set up` in the hand stick for either center alinement or base alinement, it is obvious that the invention would extend to other kinds of matrices, or matrices which are to be used for other systems of alinement. For example, the matrices shown and described in the StougesV application Serial No. 731,832, beforereferred to, are normally intended for base alinement and yet, according to thepresent invention, they could be altered in similar fashion to adapt the characters for center 4alinement if desired. The same principle applied to matricesV such as are used in the regular commercial linotype machines and 'characters either for center alinement `o'rafor base alinement. f 1' Y l. Having thus described my invention., whatI claim is: Y. v

1. In or for a slug casting machine a'hand stick for composing a line of matrices, said matrices being'V capable ofrelative transversemovement in the hand stick and being formed each with two alining surfaces, one for-base alinement and the other for a different alinement', and means oni-the stick adapted to cooperate with said alining surfaces to determine the relative positions of the matrices for one alinement or the other as desired.

2. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with an alining member, and a line of matrices of different fonts assembled therein and whose characters are normally intended for other than base alinement, said matrices being formed with alining surfaces located at different points on matrices of different font sizes and engageable with said alining member for composition in different relative positions with their characters in ba'se alinement.

3. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with an alining bar, and a line of matrices of different fonts assembled therein and whose characters are normally intended for other than base alinement, the matrices being formed with recesses to receive said alining bar and the recesses varying in depth between fonts, whereby the matrices may be alined by the bar in different relative positions with their characters in base alinement.

4. A hand stick according to claim 2, wherein the alining member is fixed, and each matrix is formed in an edge adjacent the casting edge with a notch adapted to fit over the alining member, the notches varying in depth in matrices of different fonts. v

5. A hand stick according to claim 2, wherem the alining member is movable into and out of operative position, and the matrices of different fonts are formed in the edges opposite their casting edges with recesses of different widths adapted to receive the alining member and render the matrices capable of relative transverse movement to bring their characters into common base alinement.

6. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with a movable alining bar, a line of matrices of different fonts composed therein and whose characters may be located for different systems of alinement, recesses formed in the edges opposite the casting edges of the matrices, said recesses varying in width in matrices of different fonts, whereby the matrices may be composed in the stick for one system of alinement and the alining bar moved into position to seat in the recesses of all matrices, the matrices being thereafter movable relatively to one another to bring a wall of each recess into engagement with the bar to locate the matrix characters for a different system of alinement.

'7. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick having parallel side and end walls, one of said side walls presenting an alining surface and the other being equipped with an alining bar, a line of matrices of diierent fonts composed in the stick and whose characters may be located for different systems of alinement, the matrices at one end being formed to engage said alining side wall and locate the matrixcharacters in"ac'cordance with the sys# tem` of Valinementv for whichthey are normally intended, and the matrices being formedin their opposite ends Vwith notches` varying in depth in matrices Vof Vdifferent fonts to engage with said alining bar for locating their characters in accordanceiwitha different system of alinement.

8. In or for a slug castingrnachine,'aY matrix compo'singlhandY stick having parallel sidea-nd end walls," one of said side walls presentin'g'fan aliningsurface, a line of matrices composed in the stick and having alining surfaces to engage said side wall and locate the matrix characters in accordance with the system of alinement for which they are normally intended, said matrices being formed with other alining surfaces located at different points on different matrices, and an alining bar arranged in the stick and engageable with said other alining surfaces in determining the relative positions of the matrices to locate their characters in accordance with a different system of alinement.

9. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with an alining member for the composition of a line of matrices therein of different font sizes, said matrices being formed with alining surfaces located in different positions on matrices of different fonts and engageable with said alining member to locate the characters of the matrices in accordance with a system of alinement other than that for which they are intended.

10. In or for a slug casting machine,.a matrix composing hand stick containing a line of matrices of different font sizes, said matrices differing in form as between the fonts other than by size of character, and said hand stick having means to cooperate with the matrices of the diiferent forms and locate their characters in accordance with a system of alinement other than that for which they are normally intended.

11. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick containing a line of matrices of different font sizes, said matrices differing in form as between the fonts other than by size of character, and said hand stick having means to cooperate with the matrices of the different forms and locate their characters in accordance with one or another system of alinement.

12. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick containing a line of matrices of different font sizes, said matrices differing in form as between the fonts other than by size of character, and said hand stick being provided with an alining surface to cooperate with the matrices of the diiferent forms and locate their characters in accordance with a system of alinement other than that for which they are normally intended.

13. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick containing a line of matrices of diiferent font sizes, said matrices differing in form as between the fonts other than by size of character, and said hand stick being provided with two alining surfaces to cooperate with the matrices of the different forms, one to locate the matrix characters in accordance with the system of alinement for which they are normally intended and the other to locate them in accordance with a different system of alinement.

14. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick containing a line of matrices of different font sizes, said matrices beking formed with aliningsurfaces diiering` in 1o With'rthe alining surfaces of thermatri'ces of the different fonts and locate their characters in accordance with a system of alinement otherY than that for which they are normallyintended.A Y

15. VIn or for aV slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick containing aline of Vmat-'- rices of different font sizes, Isaid matrices being formed with alining surfaces occupying the same locationr4 as between the fonts and with other alining surfaces differing in location as between the fonts, andl said hand stick beingprovided with two alining surfaces to cooperate with the respective alining surfaces of the matrices, one Vto locate the matrix characters in accordance with'the system of alinement for whichthey are normally intended and the other to locate the matrix characters in accordance with a diierent system of alinement. LUTHER E. MORRISONY 

